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W80

W80
Missile warheadUnited StatesThermonuclear (staged)
No freely licensed photo of this device yet.
Yield · TNT equivalent5–150 kt

Key specs

Design
Thermonuclear (staged)
Type
Missile warhead
Weight
130 kg
Length
800 mm
Diameter
300 mm
In service
1981 – present
Number built
2,117

Overview

A variable-yield warhead of 5 to 150 kt for cruise missiles: the air-launched AGM-86 ALCM and, earlier, the sea-launched Tomahawk. The W80-4 version is being built for the new LRSO cruise missile.

Effect radii: estimates

Calculated for 150 kt

Fireball, maximum radius
≈ 450 m
Initial radiation, 500 rem (5 Sv)
≈ 2.2 km
Blast 5 psi: most buildings collapse
≈ 3.8 km
Thermal: third-degree burns
≈ 5.2 km
Blast 1 psi: windows shatter
≈ 12 km

Estimated ground ranges for an air burst at the optimum height over flat, open ground, computed from the yield with standard scaling laws. These are not measurements: real effects depend on the height of burst, terrain, buildings and weather.

Formulas from: Glasstone & Dolan, The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (1977), chapter II; Carey Sublette, Nuclear Weapons FAQ, section 5

Sources

  1. Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Weapon Archive (Carey Sublette)
  2. W80 (nuclear warhead), Wikipedia